CHAPTER IV. TRUE TO PRINCIPLE.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume III, Issue 118, 30 July 1875, Page 6

CHAPTER IV. TRUE TO PRINCIPLE.

As she spoke these words she rushed out of the room, and hurrying to her own chamber, wept long and bitterly over the defection of her uncle, and the mistaken line of conduct pursued by Reginald, to whom the whole wealth of her affections had long been devoted ; nor did she leave her room till she had seen Sir Reginald and the fanatical Benson gallop down the avenue leading from the Grange. Then, with tears in her eyes, she sought an apartment, the secret of admission to which was only known to herself, and Sir Charles de Gray. Florence had turned her steps to an almost uninhabited wing of the mansion, and entering a small ante-room, to which she obtained admission by a pasa-key which she kept in her possession, she entered a spacious apartment which had not been tenanted for many years. Its antique oaken chairs, with cushions of Utrecht Telvet, were covered with dust ; spiders had woven their webs in every nook and corner of the room, and the tapestry hangings were in many places falling to pieces. Advancing to the further end of the room, she raised the tapestry, and pressing her finger on a spring which lay concealed in the wall, the panel flew back and disclosed an aperture large enough to allow of a person passing through. This was one of those places of concealment known by the name of " priests' hiding holes," some of which are still to be found in very old mansions. Florence then entered the aperture, and made her way through a passage formed in the wall itself, at the end of which was a small arched door, here she paused, and tapped gently for admittance, and was answered by the mild Benedicite of the good Father, who had remained there since the arrival of Sir Reginald. Father Lawson received with a smile the intelligence that the Grange was now free of its visitants, and that the baronet wished for his society that evening. "I fear, Florence," said he, after a pause, "that evil may come of this visit of Benson. You have heard me speak of the man, he was not always the fanatic he has now become. In our youth, and before I became a Catholic, we were college mates together, he had then no Puritanism about him, and 1 fancy it was adopted to ingratiate himself with Sir Reginald, the preceptor of whose sou he unhappily became, much to the horror of Lady St. John, who was far from an illiberal woman ; however, my child, I am positive if Benson can bring me into trouble he willi and in order not to be a cause of ftnxiety to Sir Charles I shall, for a short time, go to the metropolis, for I feel convinced our recognition was mutual." Florence then acquainted Father Lawson with the story of her own trouble, touching lightly, however, on that portion relating to Sir Reginald, but dwelling bitterly on her uncle's contemplated defection. Father Lawson knew, however, the. history of her betrothal, and warned her against the unhappiness that might follow should she become the wife of William's favourite ; " but/ h« added, " in God's good time, this Reginald may yet become wise ; and as to the news about your uncle, I indeed grieve to hear it, and am surprised that William of Orange can lure him from his life of peaceful indolence, no, v to him a second nature from the mere force of habit, to the busy scenes of public life." Then Florence bade him farewell, and gliding through the disused apartment and long corridors, she replaced the panel and hastened to the library in which, as she expected, she found her undo seated. Florence was clad in a robe of pale green brocade, and look«d exquisitely lovely, and advancing to the old man's seat, •yen before he was aware of her approach, her golden hair waved upon his withered cheek, and a tear fell on the brow she reverently kissed. '* Why, Florence, my child, what ails you ?" said the baronet, " why are you in tears, cheer up, or I promise you I will not show you the great city during the few wseks that will pass before you return to France." " Alas, it is that very journey that makes me unhappy, for I have ascertained the cause that brought Reginald hither. Think twice, dear uncle, before you take this step." "I have thought about it, Florence, and my word is pledged to meet the king. Do not look so angry, I -will call him Dutch William, then, if that pleases, my Jacobite niece better j but, let us be serious, Florence* because I have an audience of William of Orange, I do not on that account become a traitor to King James." " Pardon me, dear uncle, but is it not a tampering with honour that is not quite honourable. All your life long you have been inactive where your lawful king was concerned, what shall I say to King James if he should hear you have sought the court s of William?" *' Silence, Florence," said the old man in a playful tone, yet more than half annoyed at the pertinacity with which Florence pressed him home, " I will give you no cause for shame, and now I have Bomething to say to you : if you are so vexed at my acquiesence with William's wish to see me, which I could not well excuse myself from as king's requests are akin to commands, then how do you like knowing that your future husband is the favourite of the Dutchman, aB you scornfully call him. He left me sorrowing at your anger and begged, me to intercede in his behalf." " Let him desert the court of King William," said Florence, •' I will never marry St. John, while he remains the friend^ and favourite of William of Orange ; and, as far as you are concerned, my dearest uncle, I shall see you enter the precincts of that hateful Court with' abhorence, lest unlooked for evil may befall you. Whilst we are in London I shall count the days till I return to Jk|u»oe."

" We begin our journey to-morrow, Florence j when we meet next, try and look at things more cheerfully," and as Sir Charles spoke, he left the room, anxious to close the conversation. For a few minutes Florence stood in a musing attitude, then she said to herself, " Yes, perhaps even what I dread most may be for the best, for in London, I too may play a part if I will; I will see Ashton, and perhaps even I may have it in my power to aid my royal mistress."